Round 2's new AMT 2016 Camaro SS FULL DETAIL kit: First look/detailed overview (and I'm not kidding about that full detail comment....)

[tim boyd]

Well...maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but the team at Round 2 are readying a huge shot across the bow of the hobby kit industry.  

Feast your eyes on their new, just about to be introduced 2016 Camaro SS FULL DETAIL model kit.  

We're talking many innovative features here, such as the glass unit with pre-applied blackout panels AND a full-color rear window defroster grid!  

An independent rear suspension comprised of 20(!) individual, highly engraved components.

And, yes, bless them, a fully detailed, stand-alone engine and transmission assembly under a lift-off hood.  

You can see and read the whole story at this link, which includes 45 individual pictures and captions for each image.  Make sure to use the "roll" feature when viewing so you can see the info and commentary that goes along with the pictures.  

My initial reaction is that this is a hugely significant development for the model kit hobby.  Not only for this individual kit, which is a definite "buy and build" category of kit IMHO, but also for the promise it holds in re-invigorating the domestic kit industry coverage of all-new 1/1 scale automobiles with FULL DETAIL 1/25th scale assembly kits.  

Yet once again, is this a great hobby of ours or what?  

Thanks for looking,   TIM 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2016 by tim boyd

[Mr Stock]

I do not normally get excited about modern cars or kits, but this one has me very interested, it looks fantastic.

 

[MrObsessive]

Tim, thanks for the sneak peek! Yup! This is definitely on the "must get" list, and I hope like you they see fit to do more modern car kits. That glass is unreal! That sure saves a LOT of work, and I think that's the first time I've seen rear window defroster grid (tampo printed?) on clear plastic like that.

 

Edited August 12, 2016 by MrObsessive

[Rob Hall]

Looks good...nice to see Round 2 getting serious about new tooling again. I hope it's not  a one-off and that it's the start of something good from them. 

[MrObsessive]

I missed your link at first Tim, but looking over your entire review I see some interesting things happening with this kit. First------FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY, they've scaled up some decent low profile tires! The old AMT never would get the modern low profile tires correct, and they always had the appearance of being "too tall" compared to what was on the 1:1. The old Prowler kit comes to mind as I ended up buying a Revell one simply because it had much more accurate tires, but was lacking in better detail.

The jury's still out about the poseable steering. Either way is fine with me as I can always add detail to the tie rod to get rid of the plain look. OTOH, I can see why Round 2 did it this way for the sake of robustness, and perhaps ease of molding. Now! Round 2 is there any way you can see fit to tool up a new Mustang in this fashion??

[Snake45]

Looks like a nice kit. Too bad I have little interest in the subject matter, and what interest I have could be fully satisfied by a snapper/curbside/promo type kit.

I hope they make money on it, which will of course encourage them to bring out other new kits.

[TarheelRick]

Looks and sounds like a really sweet kit.  Just one observation, they are still molding the engine in halves so there is a visible seam on the transmission.

[Zoom Zoom]

Still mad about that Tamiya DBS, eh? 

Looks like a great kit. Almost cruel that there is no comparable Mustang kit. I certainly hope Round2 offers ZL1 & Z28 variants along the way.

[Zoom Zoom]

Looks like a nice kit. Too bad I have little interest in the subject matter, and what interest I have could be fully satisfied by a snapper/curbside/promo type kit.

I hope they make money on it, which will of course encourage them to bring out other new kits.

There is a snap kit version of this model that should be on the shelves later this month. The full-detail glue kit is apparently a month behind the snap kit.

[Bennyg]

Wow! That looks awesome! Great subject and looks to be well engineered. Hopefully hoes together well. Hopefully they'll do a new big rig, although I'd be happy if they would reissue their 1/32 big rigs. 

 

Ben

[Fat Brian]

Wow, this is incredible. I can see a few of these in my future as donor kits for restomod builds.

[unclescott58]

Thanks for another great review Tim. The new Camaro looks great. And so does AMT's new kit. I really like the prepainted window parts. The trouble is, I'm more interested in pursuing the new Camaro as a promo rather than a kit. I wonder if there will be one made available? By AMT or another?

 

[tim boyd]

Still mad about that Tamiya DBS, eh? 

Looks like a great kit. Almost cruel that there is no comparable Mustang kit. I certainly hope Round2 offers ZL1 & Z28 variants along the way.

Bob....agree on all points!   (smile back at 'ya!)   Cheers....TIM 

[tim boyd]

Thanks for another great review Tim. The new Camaro looks great. And so does AMT's new kit. I really like the prepainted window parts. The trouble is, I'm more interested in pursuing the new Camaro as a promo rather than a kit. I wonder if there will be one made available? By AMT or another?

 

Scott....as Bob said above, there is also a simplified assembly version of the Camaro SS from Round 2 on the horizon,,,,ask and ye shall receive!   I just hope that sales of the full detail version vs the simplified version justify the expense/investment in future full detail kits of current automotive subjects......TIMe

Edited August 12, 2016 by tim boyd

[Snake45]

There is a snap kit version of this model that should be on the shelves later this month. The full-detail glue kit is apparently a month behind the snap kit.

If it's molded in a cool color--a metallic green would be great, metallic orange even better!--I'll probably buy one.

[Rob Hall]

If it's molded in a cool color--a metallic green would be great, metallic orange even better!--I'll probably buy one.

looks like it is molded in silver 

[Zoom Zoom]

If it's molded in a cool color--a metallic green would be great, metallic orange even better!--I'll probably buy one.

I believe it's silver...boring, boring silver   I have no idea if there will be promos, but the fact that they developed the full-detail and curbside versions side-by-side means there's likely a good chance the curbside exists because of potential promos. The pre-printed stuff on the full-detail kit also seems to make a case for that as well.

[Snake45]

I believe it's silver...boring, boring silver   I have no idea if there will be promos, but the fact that they developed the full-detail and curbside versions side-by-side means there's likely a good chance the curbside exists because of potential promos. The pre-printed stuff on the full-detail kit also seems to make a case for that as well.

Silver might work for me. Was just making a list this morning of the various polished-plastic colors I have, and I don't have anything in silver. Well I do have an AMT '63 Vette coupe molded in silver but I need to take a good look at it and see if it's suitable for polishing.

[echoxrayniner]

Sweet baby Jesus this blew all my expectations out the water. I got a series going on with every Camaro from first gen through the last, just missing this one. I was really worried that it wasn't gonna be any good, Revell's '10 SS and '13 ZL1 have been pretty high up the detail scale but Round 2 just took the cake and the whole freakin' bakery. Thanks for the ton of pictures, Tim!

Late September it hits the shelves, right?

[unclescott58]

Scott....as Bob said above, there is also a simplified assembly version of the Camaro SS from Round 2 on the horizon,,,,ask and ye shall receive!   I just hope that sales of the full detail version vs the simplified version justify the expense/investment in future full detail kits of current automotive subjects......TIMe

I hope both versions of the new Camaro kit sell very well. But, I personally do not want even the simplified version for myself. I want promos. Of the coupe now. And hopefully a convertible in a year or two. I love building kits. But, I love promos even more. I do have the last generation Camaros in both coupe and convertible promo versions. Plus, the latest Sring Rays. And no kits of either.

 

[SfanGoch]

Wow! R2 hit a homer with this kit. 

[High octane]

I personally have little to no interest in "pony cars" other than maybe the Challengers & 'Cudas of the 70's. I did own a Camaro at one time and it was fun, however I had to trade it, as I needed a truck for work.

[Jhedir6]

WOW... I'll admit, that when I saw the thread title in the forum list " Round 2's New AMT 2016 Camaro.." I yawned. Yet another cool car, with too tall tires, metal axles, and molded in engine/suspension detail....again. Then I click on the link and am pleasantly surprised to see its a full detail kit. I'm truly shocked. I too hope its a new trend with domestic manufacturers to make highly detailed kits for those of us that arent 10. I know they need to appeal to the younger consumers for the future but they seem to be leaving US behind the past few years, alot or really nice snap kits, but not nearly as many full detail kits as in the past. Thanks for sharing all the photos, I'll have to get one of these not it looks like.....

Wonder who's gonna do some TK's for this? A Z28 or maybe even a Trans Am TK to make it a 2016 Bandit? Isnt it about time Hollywood did a remake on the Smokey and the Bandit movies anyways? Pretty sure they've run out of original material. I know Plamoz has a TK for the 2010 Revell kit in the works to bump it up to the 2014 Z28 hopefully someone will do some for this.

Thanks for posting. More kits to buy......I hate this hobby sometimes.

David

[Daddyfink]

Well, might be able to make something cool out of it! Come on AMT, how about some drag parts! 

 

[russosborne]

I hope they sell well, but I personally have zero interest in newer car kits, especially the crappy Camaro. I hate the looks, and even though I am a Mustang person the newer Mustangs are right behind in their hideousness.

The only recent new car I like the looks of is the Challenger.

I hope Round2 sells enough to finance a thorough inventory of their existing molds.

Russ